Karakuwa (唐桑町; -chou) is a town located in Motoyoshi District, Miyagi, Japan.

As of 2004, the town has an estimated population of 8,514 and a density of 201.32 persons per km². The total area is 42.29 km².

The mayor is Satou Kazunori (佐藤和則).

It borders Kesennuma to the north-west and Rikuzentakata, part of Iwate Prefecture, to the north, and has Kesennuma bay with Oshima island to the west, Hirota bay to the north-east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south and east.

The highest point in Karakuwa is Sasanagane-yama (笹長根山) (520 m), near the border with Rikuzentakata, and the lowest point is sea level.

The local numbers for telephone are 0226-32 and 0226-34. The postal codes are 988-0535 and 988-0512.

The town flower is the Camellia, town tree is the Pine, and the town bird is the Common Gull.

History

Karakuwa's name (唐桑) literally means "China (Tang Dynasty, specifically) Mulberry," and has been used to refer to the area back to the times when it was part of a larger Kesen District in Mutsu Province. According to the story of where the name came from, a Chinese ship wrecked on the rocky coast, and in its hold was a mulberry tree. The tree was rescued and planted, and it survived and spread to become common in the area, as did the legend.

Around 700 A.D., there is record of Ainu presenting local marine products at the Imperial Court, which may have encouraged immigration to the area. The area remained peaceful during the Nara period, due to the powerful influence of the Minamoto Clan. However, during the Heian Period, the Minamotos were defeated by Taira no Kiyomori in the Heiji Rebellion. The Kasai Clan received the region, but were left heirless near the end of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the area was given to Date Masamune as part of his lands.

During the Meiji Restoration, it was taken from the Date clan as punishment for their involvment and given to the Takasaki Clan to administer, becoming part of Motoyoshi District in 1868, then becoming part of several short-lived prefectures before finally becoming part of Miyagi Prefecture on April 18, 1876.

In 1889, the two villages in the area, Karakuwa and Koharagi (小原木) merged to form a larger village called Karakuwa, then incorporated into a town in 1955.

In 2004 and 2005 there were discussions with Motoyoshi and Kesennuma regarding a merge to create a larger city. Although Motoyoshi withdrew from the talks, an agreement to merge was made with Kesennuma. On March 31, 2006, Karakuwa will cease to exist as a separate town.

Economy

The local economy has some mixed farming, but due to the rocky granite and marble coastline, which favours small ports over farming, the focus is on commercial deep-sea fishing. There is also some commercial activity in processing the catch, and the rugged beauty of the coastline encourages significant tourism.

Transportation

• Route 45, to Sendai via Kesennuma, major highway
• Route 26, to Kesennuma, older, winding highway
• Route 239, connects Route 45 and 26 along the east coast of the Karakuwa peninsula
• JR East Kesennuma Line (rail), to Maeyachi Station in Kanan with connections to Sendai from Kesennuma Station in Kesennuma
• JR East Oofunato Line (rail), to Ichinoseki and Sakari Station in Ofunato from Shishiori-Karakuwa Station or Kesennuma Station in Kesennuma.

(Note: There are no train stations in Karakuwa itself.)

Tourist attractions

• Oogama-Hanzou (巨釜ー半造) - Located off Route 26, on the east coast of the Karakuwa peninsula. A park area with walking trails along the rugged, dark marble of the coast line. The feature attraction and the town symbol, Oreishi (折石), is here, a marble column rising from the ocean which stands 16 m tall and is 3 m wide. Prior to the Sanriku tsunami breaking off the top in 1896, it stood an additional 2 m taller.

• Osaki Shrine (御崎神社) - Located at the end of Route 26 at the southernmost tip of the Karakuwan peninsula. A large shrine is here, with paths with branches entwined above and more views of the rocky coast line. A connecting path leads up the coast to eventually join with Oogama-Hanzou. The Karakuwa Tsunami Museum is located in the same area. Built in 1984, it's billed as the only place in Japan where you can feel the simulated experience of a tsunami.

• Isaribi Park (漁火パーク) - Located off Route 26, Isaribi Park contains the highest point on the Karakuwan peninsula, a restaurant, gift shop, small playground and go-kart track are at the base. A short climb to the top reveals a small shrine and a lookout which allows views of the Karakuwan peninsula to the south, Oshima island and Kesennuma to the west, and Iwate to the north-east.

• 9-9 Sound Beach (九九鳴き浜) - Located off Highway 26 between the town centre and Kesennuma, with a approximately three kilometre walk from the access point to the beach. So named because the mixed porcelain, granite, and sand stone of the beach is said to make a 'kyuu-kyuu' or 'ku-ku' sound when walked on. (Kyuu (きゅう) and ku (く) are the two pronunciations of the number nine (九) in Japanese.)

• Dairiseki Coast (大理石海岸) - Located off Highway 45 close to the Miyagi-Iwate border. The coastline of this area features white marble, contrasting the darker colours found in most of the town.

• The entire coastline of Karakuwa forms part of Rikuchu Coast National Park. (陸中海岸国立公園)

External links

• Official website in Japanese
• Prefectual Website for Rikuchu Coast National Park in English